Annabelle Winkers, a Fennimore fourth-grader, and Adalyn Howe, a Lodi fifth-grader, are winners of the Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom essay contest.
Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Agriculture in the Classroom program asked fourth and fifth graders to write an essay with the theme, “A Wisconsin Tree and Me: How Trees Grow Food and Fiber.”
The contest aims to engage students in writing, reading, and research through the context of food and agriculture. Judges took into account content, grade-appropriate writing benchmarks, and creativity. This contest is open to all fourth and fifth-grade students across the state.
Annabelle is the winner of the fourth-grade contest. Her teacher is Emily Kamps at Fennimore Elementary School in Grant County. Adalyn is the winner of the fifth-grade contest. She submitted her essay independently with the help of her family. Adalyn is a student at Lodi Elementary School in Columbia County.
“Wisconsin Agriculture is an integral part of our state’s history, economy, and culture, which are all important learning standards in both fourth and fifth grade classrooms,” says Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Coordinator Beth Schaefer.
Over 1,500 students wrote essays for the competition.
Essay entries were judged at the county, district, and state levels with stiff competition in each grade division. Nine district winners were named state finalists and received a prize package including a medal and a custom backpack. The state winner also received a plaque and prizes valued at over $250.
